Keeping a Pool Immaculate Explained: What You Need to Know

Every home or hotel owner with a pool ( either indoor or outdoor ) wants the same thing – sparkling turquoise water. This elusive feat is not as unattainable as most would think, it is actually easier to keep your pool clean than you imagine – although you will have to put up with a little elbow grease and invest in an array of useful cleaning accessories. And, oh, don’t forget the sanitizing chemicals and a good pool filter.

(source:pooldone.com)

That being said, here are some of the steps to a pristine swimming pool.

1. Take Inventory of What you Need to Clean up Your Pool

Even before you get started on this, it pays to take stock of the cleaning supplies that you need for the daunting task ahead. You might want to hire or buy a telescopic pole; the pole comes in handy in cleaning the hard to reach areas of the pool. Secondly, you will need a leaf net also known as a leaf skimmer. Additionally, you need a good pool brush to scrub the floor and the walls of the pool. And to round it up, a vacuum head and a hose will also come in handy if you don’t have access to an automatic pool cleaner.

2. Brush/Scrub the Walls of the Pools at least Once a Week

Most pool owners overlook this, but it is recommended that you scrub the walls of the pool at least once every week for that spotless, immaculate look. And while at it, pay a lot of attention to areas that are plagued with poor water circulation. To make your work easier, buy brushes of different sizes that can be attached to a telescopic pole, or one that comes with a fitted pole attached. These brushes can also be used to scrub your patio and deck too.

3. Get rid of the Leaves and Debris

This ought to be done every morning and evening – if the pool is located next to a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves periodically. Use a leaf net for this purpose; you can also use it to catch insect while at it too. The leaf net is also useful in removing toys or other assorted paraphernalia left by your kids while playing in it.

4. Install a Pool Filter

A pool filter collects microscopic particles and fine debris from the pool water to help keep the water free from sediments. You might have the best pool pump in your premises, but if you don’t complement it with a pool filter, you’re likely to end up with a swampy pool. Depending on how frequently the pool is used, the filter should always be ‘on’ at least 6 to 14 hours a day. However, this is not enough. Make sure that the filter is regularly maintained ( twice or more a month ) to keep it in tip-top shape. Replace worn out cartridges while taking good care to wash D.E and sand filters periodically to reduce the chances of them clogging with debris and dirt.

5. ‘Shock’ the Pool Periodically

This, in other words, means chlorinating the water in a bid to kill off any algae or bacteria and letting it stand in the pool for at least three days. During this time, keep adding a gallon of chlorine every day until the ‘shocking’ period is over. You might also want to add a suitable algaecide to the pool water at this time too.

6. Keep the Pool in the Appropriate pH

Chlorinating your pool frequently is one thing, keeping it in the right chemical levels is another different script altogether. It is imperative to keep testing your pool’s water every once in a while, for two main key factors that may upset the water’s chemical equilibrium – sanitizers and the pH levels. This makes it possible for you to track how weather ( sun and rain ), bather load and chemical treatment affects the chemical equilibrium of your pool’s water. Besides, there’s no better way to ensure crystal clear water all season long than through continual testing of sanitizer and pH levels.

The Bottom line

As much as it is important to clean your pool thoroughly and regularly, it is also vital to ensure optimum pH at all times. And this falls within the threshold of between 7.2 and 7.6.

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